James h



l. H. RAND, In.

CARD INDEX OR REFERENCE DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED mu. 5. 1920.

1,367,327. Patented Feb.1, 1921.

J6 5 By.

1 EDWARDS ELTON .2; T 772 TO .L

Q ELMER FARNSWORTH ATTOR/VEKS UNITED STA'ILEliI TENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. RAND, JR, OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. RAND, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Tonawanda, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Card-Index or Refer once Devices, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to card index or reference devices of that sort in which index or reference cards or elements are retained on a display frame or panel in overlapping arrangement withexposed edges, and particularly to such devices in which the overlapping cards or elements are arranged in two or more parallel columns on the supporting frame or panel, and in which a, plurality of such panels or frames are hinged so as to swing relatively to each other, similarly to the leaves of a book for exposing to view,

the cards or elements on any one of the frames or panels.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this nature which is of large capacity and has two or'more parallel columns of overlapping cards or elements on the same side of a frame or panel with the cards or elements in one column approximately registering with those in the adja cent column so that oppositeor registering cards or elements in adjacent columns may bear related reference matter and can be readily examined side by side at the same time. Otherobjects of the invention are to space the columns of overlapping cards or elements on each panel or frame so that the supporting, frames or panels can be mounted with the cards orelements on one 1 panel contacting with those on the adjacent frame or panel without causing the cards or' elements on adjacent frames or panels to catch against eachother and interfere with the swinging movement of the panels or frames; alsoto arrange the columns of cards made' ofcelluloid or other suitable trans- Specification of Letters Patent.

CARD-INDEX 0R REFERENCE DEVICE.

V Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed January 5, 1920. Serial No. 349,602.

parent material and constitutes a transparent protecting holder for an indicator for the column of cards or elements.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an index or reference device embodying the invention showing one of the frames or panels in edge elevation and partly in section and showing another panel with the index or reference elements thereon in front elevation. I v

Fig. 2 is a reduced plan view showing a plurality of the panels or frames hinged on a stand or support to swing relatively to each other.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view of one of the panels on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the cover members.

A represents an upright frame or panel which may be of any suitable construction adapted to support on one or both faces thereof the columns of overlapping cards or elements B. Ordinarily a plurality of these frames or panels A are hinged at one edge, a, thereof in any suitable manner on a suitable stand or support C so that the frames or panels A can be swung relatively to each other like the leaves of a book from a position in which the frames orpanels are substantially parallel with each other to a position to expose to view the cards or elements on any one of the frames or panels. As shown, each frame or panel A is provided at its upper and lower ends adjacent to its inner or rear edge with upwardly and down wardly projecting pivots D which enter suitable hearing openings in the horizontal top and bottom rails 62 of the stand or support 0. whereby each panel or frame is adapted to swing horizontally on the stand or support C.

The index or reference elements B may be cards or slips of paper having reference matter printed thereon or they may be holders on which separate cards or slips bearing the reference matter are suitably retained, both these constructions being well known. These index or reference elements can be sup-ported on the panel or frame A in overlapping order with one edge of each element exposed to view in any suitable manner, the elements being preferably hinged on the frame ,sothat one or more of them can be raised to expose to view the underlying element. As shown, the panel or frame A is provided oneach face thereof with oppositely disposed parallel channels or grooves E at the opposite edges of each column of index or reference elementsinto which retaining lugs or parts f at the opposite ends of each element ''project for retaining the elements on the panel-,fhe elements having tongues or parts adapted to interlock with eachother'or rest one upon another, or the elements being otherwise constructed so as to retain them in-the overlapping relation shown with one edge of each element exposed to view. The manner of supporting the index or reference elements in overlapping relation on the panel or frame does not constitute a part of this invention and'any known or suitable expedient for this pur pose may be adopted.

The adjacent columns of index or referenceelements on each face of each of the panels'or. frames are sepa 'ated by an inter vening space (it, and a similar space G is also preferably provided at the outer edge ofthe frame or panel adjacent to the outer cdgeof the outer column of elements, and the index or reference elements in adjacent columns 011 the's'ame face of each panel or frame A are so disposed that the exposed edge of each element in one column-is approximately opposite to or approximately registers with the exposed edge of a card or element in the adjacent column. Thus re lated matter can be provided on the registering cards or elements in the two columns and; the two cards or elements can be examined atthe same time. F or instancmboth cards orelements can apply to the same person, or subject and one bearccrtain matter and the other different butrelated matter pertaining to this person or subject. By

this arrangementof the cards or elements ample space'for the reference matter for a particular person or sub ect 1S provlded and either card or element can be examined separatelyor th'etwo related cards or elements examined at the same time... as may be desired or necessary. v

- The overlapping cards or elements project out from the face of the supporting frame or panel A and when the frames or panels are swung together or into substantially parallel relation the cards or elements on the facing sides of two adjacent panels or frames contact with eachother, and since the panels or frames swing in different arcs on their hinges, as indicated in Fig. 2, the contacting ca rds or.,elements on adjacent panels or frames slide or shift laterally face to face upon each other. In order to preventthe edges -of the cards in one column on one frame from catching on the adjacent edges of the cards or elements in the diagonally opposite column on the next panel or frame and thus injuring the cards or interfering with the swinging movement of the panels or frames, the space G between adjacent columns on each panel or frame is made at least as wide as the maximum lateral shifting movement of the elements on adjacent frames relatively to each other. By this arrangement the cards in one column 'on one frame cannot shift relatively to the cards in the diagonally o posite column on the next frame, during t eswinging movement of the frames, far enough to cause said cards or elements to strike or catchon each other. The swinging anels or frames can therefore be arranged c-ose together with the cards on adjacent frames bearing against each other without. danger of the cards or elements interfering or catching in the operation of the-device.

The space G between adjacent columns of cards or elements on each anel or frame and a corresponding space Jr at theouter edge of the outer column of cards orelements on the frame are utilized for the reception of narrow-reference strips or pads H and H. These/strips or pads extend lengthwise of the columns in the spaces G G, each pad or set of strips being thus disposed adjacent to one edge of one or both of the columns of cards or elements. -The several stripsof each pad are ruled or otherwise prepared so that each strip has a space or portion h approximately op osite to or registering with the exposed or go of each card or element in the adjacent column and adapted to bear. matter related to the matter on such registering card or element. The information can be written on the strips H H and the strips removed one after another from. time to OBIS, when the matter thereon is no longer needed, thereby exposing the underlying blank strips, and the pads can be re laced by new ones whenever re-. quired. he pads or strips'H'and H can be retainedin place in theispaces G and G. in any suitable manner. For instance,. as shown, the padsor strips are provided at their upper andlower ends with holes 11 through which studs J on the upper and lower portionsof the panel or frame project, the pads or strips being retained on the studs by' tongues or flapsK secured to the upper and lower edgm or portions of the panel or frameand having snap fasteners k or othermeans d to engage the outer ends of the studs. 1' securing the padsv or strips thereon. The free edges of the cards or elements B project outwardly from the supporting frameor panel be 0nd the plane of the outermost strips H so that the edges of the elements will not strike or catch on the strips when swingingthe frameszor panels onv their hinges.

L represents a cover member for the uppermost index or reference element in each column. Each of these cover members 1s suitably hinged on the frame or panel so that it can be lifted to expose the underlying element, and consists of a piece of celluloid or other suitable transparent material provided with a pocket or other means for holding an index card or strip m against the rear face of the celluloid. Matter 011 this card or slip on indicating the contents of the elements in the column can be read through the celluloid, which covers and protects the card or slip. As shown, the cover celluloid is provided with marginal folds or flanges for retaining the card thereon.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an index or reference device of the character described, the combination of a supporting frame, and index or reference elements retained on said frame and disposed in overlapping arrangement in parallel columns with marginal portions of the elements in each column exposed to view one above another, and with the exposed portion of each element in one column approximately registering with the exposed portion of an opposite element in the adjacent col- 1111111.

2. In an index or reference device of the character described, the combination of a supporting frame, index or reference elements retained on said frame and disposed in overlapping arrangement in a column with marginal portions of the elements exposed to view one above another, and a reference strip detachably mounted on said supporting frame, extending parallel with said column of elements adjacent one edge of said elements and having spaces for refer ence matter registerin with the exposed marginal portions of said elements.

3. In an index or reference device of the character described, the combination of a supporting frame, index or reference elements retained on said frame and disposed in overlapping arrangement in spaced parallel columns with marginal portions of the elements in each column exposed to view one above another and a reference strip detachably mounted on said supporting frame, extending lengthwise in the space between said columns and having spaces for reference matter registering with the exposed marginal portions of said elements in said columns.

4. In an index or reference device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of supporting members arranged side by side and hinged to swing in different arcs, and index or reference elements disposed in overlapping arrangement in 0pposite spaced columns on the opposing faces of said supporting members, the columns on each supporting member being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the maximum lateral shifting movement of said supporting members relative to each other due to the different arcs in which they swing.

5. In an index or reference device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of supporting members arranged side by side and hinged to swing in'different arcs, and index or reference elements disposed in overlapping arrangement in opposite spaced columns on the opposite faces of said supporting members, each of said elements having a free edge movable toward and from the supporting member, the col umns on each supporting member being spaced apart a distance substantially as great as the maximum lateral shifting movement of said supportin members relative to each other due to the different arcs in which they swing, whereby interference between the elements on adjacent supporting memhers is prevented in the movements of said members.

6. In an index device of the character described, the combination of a supporting member, index or reference elements retained on said supporting member and dis posed in overlapping arrangement in a column with marginal portions of the elements exposed to view one above another, and a hinged cover member for the uppermost element having a transparent front wall and means for retaining a card bearing indicatin matter on said cover member behind said transparent wall.

Witness my hand this 9th day of Dec, 1919.

JAMES H. RAND, Jn.

Witnesses:

E. P. GRAY, M. J. SMITH. 

